On Anzac Day, commemorated this week, we remember and honour the memory of soldiers who sacrificed their lives.

You might have heard General Clausewitz’s famous aphorism that “war is the continuation of politics by other means” and hoped that the sacrifices we are reminded of each April were not in vain.

Jesus says sacrificing your life for someone else is the ultimate demonstration of love. The goodness of God compelled Jesus to sacrifice his life for those who love him. His sacrifice made sense because it was part of a bigger story of truth, hope and love.

War is a grim business and although the memories are often sad, the time around Anzac Day is a useful reminder of the bigger picture.

Some wars seem pointless and worse than the problem they were meant to fix, and that makes our remembrance bittersweet. But sometimes there are tyrants or empires so dangerous that they need defeating. Without meaning, those sacrifices become hollow. So while it’s painful to think about, it’s important to evaluate what is true and good, and then weigh up which wars are worth fighting. So while Anzac Day holds so many sad memories, it sharpens our attention to sacrifice and meaning.

When you remember the military service of a family member or friend, take a moment to consider sacrifice and its purpose.